Andrew Cooper’s Beverley and Kempton Selections

Racing analyst Andrew Cooper has provided his new picks for Wednesday, with attention on the afternoon meeting at Beverley and the evening races at Kempton. His picks focus on horses with recent encouraging runs, suitable conditions, and potential for improvement based on past performances.

In the Beverley Races 0-55 handicap, Sir Maxi is expected to benefit from a drop in the weights. The gelding ran well at Doncaster 11 days ago, finishing strongly to claim fourth after being last with more than two furlongs remaining.

The handicapper has eased him by two pounds, allowing him to qualify for this lower grade. Andrew Cooper sees this as an opportunity for the horse to make a stronger impact.

Sir Maxi has a perfect record of finishing in the first four at Beverley Races. When trained by Richard Fahey, he won on his first outing at the East Yorkshire track and placed on his second visit. Now trained by Sam England, the return to Beverley Races appears intentional.

A slowly run race would not help, but with Overlooked, partnered by Joe Fanning, and Twilight Jazz likely to set the pace, there is hope for a decent tempo. Andrew Cooper believes that a stronger pace would give Sir Maxi the chance to use his finishing speed to full effect.

At Kempton, attention turns to the mile qualifier for three-year-olds, where Maybe Not and A War Eagle are the most appealing runners on paper. Andrew Cooper favours Maybe Not, trained by Ralph Beckett.

Her Racing Post Ratings improved in her first three runs before matching her personal best at Newbury last time out. That run is worth marking up as she produced the best effort of the chasing pack behind a winner who made all the running under a strong ride from William Buick.

The step up in trip could be important, as her racing style suggests she will appreciate more ground. Andrew Cooper expects that the extra distance will allow her to show greater strength in the closing stages.

The 1m4f handicap at Kempton could be controlled by the younger runners thanks to the 10lb weight-for-age allowance. Andrew Cooper points to an Epsom race from July as the most informative piece of past evidence.

That contest featured Love You Back and Only One Blue. Since then, both the winner and runner-up from that race have won their only subsequent starts.

Even though Love You Back was sixth at Epsom, she ran like she’d do better in a faster race. This idea got stronger at Doncaster next time, where she looked like she needed more early speed.

Now, with the right setup at Kempton and a good chance for a fast pace, she is seen as a real player.

Andrew Cooper’s selections for Wednesday have a clear theme. Each horse has recent evidence of ability and appears well-positioned to progress under the right circumstances.

Sir Maxi has proven himself at Beverley Races and now returns on a mark that gives him a chance to be more competitive. Maybe Not arrives with a consistent record and the promise of improvement over a longer distance. Love You Back benefits from weight allowances and could find the set-up of this race more favourable than her recent starts.

Beverley Races often rewards horses that have previous experience of its turning track, while Kempton’s surface suits those able to settle and finish strongly. Andrew Cooper’s analysis of the likely pace in each race plays a key part in his confidence for these selections.

Beverley 0-55 Handicap: Sir Maxi
Kempton Mile Qualifier: Maybe Not
Kempton 1m4f Handicap: Love You Back

With competitive racing on both cards, the day provides opportunities for punters who follow recent form trends and consider track preferences. Andrew Cooper’s choices are based on both proven ability and the likelihood of conditions bringing out the best in each runner.